Find out how popular the last name Balsley is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Balsley.

Balsley, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Balsley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balsley in America

Balsley is the 27204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balsley surname appeared 889 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Balsley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balsley to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Balsley

The surname "BALSLEY" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that has since been lost or altered beyond recognition. The prefix "Bals-" is thought to stem from the Old English word "bæls," meaning a blaze or a fire, while the suffix "-ley" is a common place-name element that refers to a clearing or a meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where a certain Willelmus de Ballesleye is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in that region by the late 12th century. Another early reference can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which lists a Robert de Ballesle.

By the 14th century, the name had spread across various parts of England, with variations in spelling emerging over time. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 record a John de Balesleye, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 mention a Thomas de Baldesleye.

One notable figure with the surname was Sir Robert Balsley (c. 1390-1457), a member of the English gentry who served as a soldier during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his valor on the battlefield and later became a prominent landowner in Warwickshire.

Another individual of note was William Balsley (1540-1612), a merchant from Bristol who played a significant role in the city's thriving trade with the Americas. He established several successful business ventures and is credited with introducing the cultivation of tobacco to England.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, indicating that some Balsleys had made their way across the Atlantic to the New World. One such individual was John Balsley (1620-1678), who settled in Plymouth Colony and became a respected member of the local community.

During the 18th century, the Balsley name gained prominence in both England and the American colonies. Thomas Balsley (1725-1791) was a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament, while his contemporary, Samuel Balsley (1730-1805), served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Balsley surname continued to spread across various regions, with some individuals achieving noteworthy accomplishments. One such figure was Sir Edward Balsley (1810-1892), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the suppression of the Atlantic slave trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balsley

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Balsley.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Balsley was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Balsley has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Balsley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Balsley, please contact us.

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